vehicle fleet

5 Ways to Save Money Running a Business with Commercial Vehicles

There are many businesses that use vehicles to operate. Courier services and delivery vans are running up and down the country right now getting products to consumers, and taxis are criss-crossing towns and cities all day and night getting people to work and home again.

Running a business that operates a fleet of vehicles can be very profitable, and can grow quite quickly if you make a reputation for delivering on time every time, whether you are moving packages or people.

Here we are going to look at five things any business with a fleet of cars or vans should consider to help them save money and maximise their profits.

Use Electric Vehicles or Hybrids

The cost of fuel is rising all the time, and is quickly becoming the biggest regular cost for businesses that have a fleet of vehicles with tanks to fill.

This is why more and more businesses are turning to hybrid or electric vehicles as a way to save money.

Though electrics and hybrids often cost more to purchase than a petrol or diesel vehicle, the mark-up quickly pays for itself as you start putting miles on the clock, especially when you factor in the lower
maintenance costs.

Search for the Best Insurance Prices

Besides fuel, one of the biggest overheads for a company operating a fleet of vehicles is insurance.

Getting good value fleet insurance that gives you the cover you need, while still being affordable, isn’t always easy.

But if you compare insurance quotes through you have the potential to save your business hundreds or even thousands of pounds each a year, because the website compares quotes from a wide range of insurance providers in order to find the one that offers the best value for money.

Standardise Your Vehicle

Many companies that use a lot of vehicles make the mistake of having too many different makes or models in their fleet.

Operating a fleet of the same car or van can greatly reduce maintenance costs, as they will all use the same parts from the same supplier, offering you savings on bulk purchases.

Having the same vehicle also lets you swap parts between vehicles.

This can be extremely beneficial if you have a car in need of a simple part to replace like a headlight or a wheel.

Parts can quickly be swapped between a car waiting to be serviced and a vehicle that needs to get out on the road as fast as possible to keep the work flowing and the customers happy.

Always Make Sure You Have a Spare Available

Cars can be unpredictable at times, and having a vehicle break down or be taken out of action by an accident can be damaging to your business.

A disruption like this can cost you money and customers as you scramble to find a replacement vehicle. Having a spare car or van available will give you the flexibility you need to still deliver the service your customers expect when an engine lets you down or a vehicle is taken off the road by an accident.

Hire Experienced Drivers with ‘Clean’ Licences

Reliable and experienced drivers are a great way to save money on your insurance and maintenance costs.

Experienced driver that have no penalty points or insurance claims will be cheaper to insure on your vehicles, and experienced drivers are also less likely to have an accident and send your insurance premiums up later.

Experienced drivers also will often cause less wear and tear on a vehicle, treating your car or van with respect, meaning parts like brake pads and gearboxes have to be replaced or serviced less often, saving you hundreds or even thousands of pounds over the lifetime of your fleet.

Businesses that use vehicles to courier packages or transport people can be very profitable, but they also have costs that can quickly spiral out of control.

Fuel prices increase every year, and if a driver has a bad day, your insurance rates can rise quite quickly and quite suddenly.

Making the switch to electric vehicles can save you an incredible amount on fuel costs, as well as greatly reducing maintenance costs as they have so many fewer moving parts and consumables like engine oil and filters.

Also, making sure you have spare parts and spare vehicles available can save you not just money, but customers too.

The chances are you have businesses that rely on your vehicles to get their products to customers, or to get them to where they need to be, so if a car gets taken off the road, it can be very disruptive to your workflow.

If you are running a business that operates a fleet of vehicles, or are considering starting one, then hopefully this guide has given you some of the information you need to keep your business profitable.

If your wheels are turning, then you should be earning!